Liverpool-based biometric security firm, Human Recognition Systems (HRS), has reduced the component costs of one of its core products by 20 per cent thanks to a project with LCR 4.0 project partner, the Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC).
HRS predicts that the efficiency will save the business £130,000 over the next two years and boost the competitive benefits of its market-leading MSite Touch product.
HRS uses biometric technology to create industrial software and hardware security systems for construction sites, airports, oil & gas facilities and other ‘critical safe secure’ environments.
Through the LCR 4.0 business support programme, the company worked with the VEC to develop its MSite Touch system, which works to ensure users of on-site equipment and machinery are the correct personnel. The VEC worked closely with HRS to review and refine MSite Touch to reduce costs, retain effectiveness and identify possible ways to improve the scalability of the product.
The next step in the development involves replacing the current hardware component with a software module, estimated to save HRS £130,000 across the next two years, reduce component costs by 20 per cent and a 14 per cent reduction on current hardware costs.
It will also enable HRS and its customers to prepare and protect against security breaches more effectively.
Adam Smith, Product Development Group at HRS said: “The goal was to develop a solution that would remove a key component from our MSite Touch device, reducing costs and creating a reliable and scalable platform for future expansion.
“Having seen first-hand how the software was tested and assessed, we can now use this knowledge to move forward and implement process improvements across other elements of HRS. We are extremely impressed with how the project was managed and the professionalism of all those involved.”
Dr Andy Levers, technical director at the VEC and LCR 4.0 lead added: “It’s great to see a company like HRS seeing business benefits from the technical support that the LCR 4.0 programme offers.
This project is a fantastic example of how new technology can improve business productivity and competitiveness.”
Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the LCR 4.0 programme was delivered in partnership by some of the region’s key knowledge and scientific assets: the University of Liverpool (through its Virtual Engineering Centre), Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LCR LEP), Liverpool John Moores University (Faculty of Engineering and Technology), the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Hartree Centre and Sensor City.
